VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

geoff — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:38:42 GMT

Hi Simon,

I reset my system and now it's working again, I will try at some point to re-create it, but not sure if I will be able to. But if I do, I'll be sure to press that button, thanks!

Geoff

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:01:21 GMT

Hi Geoff

Please generate support information by pressing this button in the nRF Connect extension of VS Code, and we can take a look at the logs there.

It also seems to be discussed in this Github issue thread for reference. I'll try to keep an eye out for updates there as well, but we also have an internal discussion on this. https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/issues/72963

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

geoff — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:02:10 GMT

Hi Simon,

I have had this just happen to me, I was modifying code, then hitting debug over and over, eventually it stalled trying to erase, I closed out vscode, reopened and tried again... then ran into this issue after I tried a pristine build. I tried deleting the build directory entirely, recreating the build and it didn't work.

nRF Connect SDK Extension - 2026.1.1327

VS Code - 1.109.3 (Universal)

We are using nrf connect SDK v3.2.0

Is there a process where I can capture logs and send them to you for VS Code?

Regards,

Geoff

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

_r_y_a_n — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:42:33 GMT

Hey Matt,
We had this issue for a few months but it eventually went away because VSCode and NCS toolchain got updates.

The first thing to check is that your Mac, VSCode and NCS are all on the latest version. Update everything.
For a while we even had 2 installs of VSCode just to test versions against each other to ensure the issue was really resolved.
*Note* that for the latest NCS and toolchain, you will NOT be using nRF Connect for Desktop to do the install anymore. In case you missed that changeover you might be stuck a few versions behind. The new install process is directly within VSCode using the "nFR Connect for VSCode" plugin.
Also to check --- in some cases the tool (or the user) accidentally installed the Intel (x64) toolchain on Arm based Macs (arm64) or vice-versa. Just double check that all your tools are for the correct architecture that you are using.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:34:29 GMT

The main issue we haven't been able to provide a fix for this is because we can not reproduce this on our end, and none of the suggestions in this ticket has helped us reproducing it.

If anyone has logs of the issue occurring on NCS and toolchain v3.0.0 or newer we would be happy to look further into this.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

matt_dev — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:40:01 GMT

Same issue for me :(
Is there a reason why it cannot be fixed?

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

9il — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 10:49:59 GMT

+1, The same issue with vscode and cursor. NCS 3.0.2, M4

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:50:40 GMT

Thanks Sebastian. I've forwarded the support info to the internal ticket and we'll get back to you if we find something useful.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

QBSho — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:39:36 GMT

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../nrf_2D00_connect_2D00_support_2D00_20250115163836.txt

here pls
thanks in advanced simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:36:42 GMT

You can generate support information in VS Code by pressing this button in the nRF Connect extension. That might be helpful for us.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

QBSho — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:48:51 GMT

Was gone now for couple of weeks with the 2.9.0 again here.
is there an export where i can summaries my current workspace setup easy and send you ?

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:48:16 GMT

We think this might be due to a mismatch between the VS Code extension version and J-Link versions installed on your computer, since we still have not been able to reproduce this on our end. Can you share exactly what version of the extension and J-Link firmware installed & used on your computer with these issues.

Also, what kind of computer are you working on, Apple or Intel based? On Apple devices, you should install the universal version of VS Code from VS Code's pages, as the Toolchain Manager in the nRF Connect for Desktop app installs an Intel based toolchain by default if I recall correctly.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

alnyland — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:04:00 GMT

I'm having this issue show up again last week; my VS Code extension is set to auto-update and appears to be fully updated. J-Link was updated 3 weeks ago, no known changes in that time to the SDK/toolchain.

I don't see why a version of J-Link would impact the build process.

Is there anything specific you'd recommend or want me to try? This was a regular issue for much of 2024, I stayed with a VS Code version prior to 1.86 until about a month or two, which I then updated everything and had no issues until most of last week.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:57:12 GMT

The working theory as to why we haven't been able to reproduce this is that there is an incorrect version of the VS Code extensions or J-Link on your computer. Uninstalling the SDK and toolchain and reinstalling again should work AFAIK.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

alnyland — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:55:48 GMT

This problem was gone for me for a few months but has reappeared in the last 2 weeks. Quitting and reopening VS Code is the only solution I've found, which is quite an inconvenience.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Dan — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:42:41 GMT

Hi Simon - I removed all old versions of the SDK and toolchain and tried again with SDK 2.7 and it works - thanks for your help!

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

QBSho — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:28:41 GMT

Same issue here.
Restart the whole MAC work.

However building with "optimized for debugger" always trigger the command.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:42:56 GMT

Hi Dan

Our devs have some follow ups: Why are you using an Intel based toolchain on Apple Silicon? Please describe how you installed the extension and try installing an Apple Silicon version of the toolchain or the universal VS code version if that's not done already. Please remove all Intel based toolchains, and then install what is needed directly from the VS code extension.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

thijsfranssen — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:38:04 GMT

If I run west build -b inside the terminal in VSCode is does not work. If I run the exact same command in another terminal window it works fine.

I guess it has to do something with the env variables

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

thijsfranssen — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:11:39 GMT

I have the same issues with sdk v2.5.3

➜  application git:(master) ✗ west build -b circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160_ns --pristine
-- west build: making build dir /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build pristine
-- west build: generating a build system
Loading Zephyr default modules (Zephyr base).
-- Application: /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application
-- CMake version: 3.29.6
-- Using NCS Toolchain 2.5.20231017.141038581733 for building. (/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/cmake)
CMake Deprecation Warning at /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/cmake/modules/FindDeprecated.cmake:121 (message):
  'PYTHON_PREFER' variable is deprecated.  Please use Python3_EXECUTABLE
  instead.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
  /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/cmake/modules/python.cmake:16 (find_package)
  /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/cmake/modules/zephyr_default.cmake:129 (include)
  /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/share/zephyr-package/cmake/ZephyrConfig.cmake:66 (include)
  /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/share/zephyr-package/cmake/ZephyrConfig.cmake:92 (include_boilerplate)
  CMakeLists.txt:4 (find_package)


-- Found Python3: /opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/python3 (found suitable version "3.9.6", minimum required is "3.8") found components: Interpreter
-- Cache files will be written to: /Users/thijsfranssen/Library/Caches/zephyr
-- Zephyr version: 3.4.99 (/Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr)
-- Found west (found suitable version "1.2.0", minimum required is "0.14.0")
-- Board: circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160_ns
-- Found host-tools: zephyr 0.16.1 (/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk)
-- Found toolchain: zephyr 0.16.1 (/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk)
-- Found Dtc: /opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/dtc (found suitable version "1.6.1", minimum required is "1.4.6")
-- Found BOARD.dts: /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/boards/arm/circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160/circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160_ns.dts
-- Generated zephyr.dts: /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build/zephyr/zephyr.dts
-- Generated devicetree_generated.h: /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build/zephyr/include/generated/devicetree_generated.h
-- Including generated dts.cmake file: /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build/zephyr/dts.cmake
Parsing /Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/Kconfig
Loaded configuration '/Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/external/zephyr/boards/arm/circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160/circuitdojo_feather_nrf9160_ns_defconfig'
Merged configuration '/Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/prj.conf'
Configuration saved to '/Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build/zephyr/.config'
Kconfig header saved to '/Users/thijsfranssen/iotsoftware/blinkyIoTboard/application/build/zephyr/include/generated/autoconf.h'
-- Found GnuLd: /opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-zephyr-eabi/12.2.0/../../../../arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/ld.bfd (found version "2.38")

west,yml

manifest:
  self:
    path: application
  remotes:
    - name: nrf
      url-base: https://github.com/nrfconnect
  projects:
    - name: sdk-nrf
      remote: nrf
      path: nrf
      revision: v2.5.3
      import:
        path-prefix: external
      clone-depth: 1

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:03:46 GMT

Yes, the support info has been received, and is now being reviewed by our devs. The next few weeks will have slow response time due to the summer period in Norway, so please hang tight.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Dan — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:39:00 GMT

HI Simon - checking in here... did you receive my "generate support" info via PM and are there any clues as to why the build is hanging on the ld.bfd step? Thanks! Dan.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Dan — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:06:48 GMT

Hi Simon - sent a few days ago... let me know if you received it OK. Thanks! Dan.

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Simonr — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:03:14 GMT

Please send the support info again in PMs if you don't want to upload it here.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: VS-CODE: build hangs: "Found GnuLd: ld.bfd..."

Dan — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:52:56 GMT

Hi Simon - I installed nrfutil and "generated support" info which I sent directly to you via a devzone "friend request".